Music teaching aid

Abstract

A music teaching aid having a number of reference rings that are positioned so as to have independent rotatable movement on a base member. Depending on the shape of the base member, the reference rings are either substantially coaxial cylindrical sleeves or concentric rings. Each reference ring has an outside surface which is divided into segments each of which displays indicia representing a note of the chromatic scale and which is identifiable by a predetermined color coding system such that when segments of the reference rings are aligned in accordance with the predetermined color coding system, corresponding segments of each successive ring will represent the notes of a non-chromatic scale.

Description

The invention relates to a music teaching aid, in particular, a device that can be used to calculate various forms of musical scales and display them in all keys simultaneously.Sounds recognised as music can be characterized generally in terms of rhythm and pitch. The pitch is determined by the frequency of the sound wave that is produced by a musical instrument or human larynx. The difference in pitch between a wave of frequency f and a wave of frequency 2f is termed octave and is subdivided into eight "notes" which when played in succession comprise a scale.An octave, more specifically, consists of 12 half-notes or semitones which when played successively produce a chromatic scale (ie C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A# and B). The difference in pitch or interval spanning two semitones is called a tone and the sequences of tones and semitones characterize a variety of non-chromatic scales such as the major, harmonic minor and melodic minor scales. The ascending major scale for ex...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

It can be very difficult for a student, and sometimes a music teacher, to determine the correct notes of a certain type of scale in a certain key.

However, it becomes even more difficult to rewrite or "transpose" music that has been written in one key into another key.

Clearly this does not engender a lasting association in terms of the individual quality of the tones but disconnects students at a very early stage in the learning process.

Whilst attempts at direct analogy, and the ensuing debate have been useful, the results have not been to the overall advantage of better aural perception, or understanding of music theory.

However students are easily confused and intimidated by a complex array of letters and symbols.

Such known devices also suffer from the fact that the student must already possess quite detailed knowledge of music theory to be able to use them effectively.

Disadvantages of the above know devices is that a person must have sufficient knowledge of music theory to be able to utilize the device which are generally cumbersome to hold and difficult to understand and use.

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